Drumming Therapy for Trauma

In a previous post we talked about the therapeutic
properties of drumming, we also explained a bit about the principles of music
therapy and musicology’s field of study as well as the scope that musicology
has in the vast field of research and investigation.

This time we‘ll talk more specifically about how
drumming can help after experiencing traumatic events. As you know, today
people are opting for several musical practices as a therapeutic alternative to
traditional medicine to treat health issues, whether physical or mental, the
sessions allow patients to connect with altered states of mind produced
naturally, which expands the range of therapeutic applications.

Playing drums according to a study conducted by Barry
Quinn, Ph.D. can redouble the wave activity of the brain, thus allowing the
reduction of stress and producing sensations of happiness and well-being. By playing
drums, the patient can express and recognize emotional problems, repressed
feelings and energetic blockages, the vibrations produced by the sound makes different
cells of the body to react, promoting the release of encapsulated stress.

Moshe Bensimon, Ph.D. also conducted an investigation
about the use of therapeutic drumming applied to post-traumatic soldiers, in
his report he addresses that these individuals usually spend a long time of
their lives fighting with the aftermath of war events and that in this process they
tend to develop post-traumatic stress disorders, this can lead to serious
symptoms of depression, isolation from society and mental instability.

During this research conducted by Bensimon nine
soldiers aged between 20 and 23 years old were used as subjects of experiments
in drumming therapies, all of whom had previously been diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress after witnessing shocking events during military service,
some even presented serious battle wounds as burns and fractures in some of
their extremities, during the tests three of them decided to quit the
experiment leaving only six men. The ones who remained where monitored by
cameras recording the sessions and interviews between the soldiers and the
music therapist. Bensimon was able to observe a remarkable reduction in
post-traumatic stress syndrome during the sessions, as well as observing the
increased sense of fraternity, union, belonging and connection among the
participants. The result could be achieved without having to access invasive
processes of confrontation with unpleasant memories.

One of the participants admitted to find attractive playing
drums because these must be hit and this helps to take out the contained anger
and let the negative emotions out.

On Besimon’s results, he approves the therapeutic
method as an outlet to negative emotions, without being necessarily an
intimidating or invasive experience; he also observed how the participants
exercising control over the volume, rhythm and timbre of the drums could regain
control and self-confidence through the rhythmic synchronization that takes
place during group therapies. However, he sees the pity of the possibility of
relapses whenever the soldiers have to return to military service.

It is clear that music is capable of healing trauma
and stress; As you can see, drumming is a method that is validated by the
scientific community and that is gaining more followers every day, the
differences (according to some testimonies) can be noticed even from the first
session. If you know someone with post-traumatic stress don’t hesitate to
suggest the drumming therapy, find out in your locality health centers, hospitals
or communities where group sessions are offered and take the opportunity to be
a participant too.